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Another point that I haven't seen yet... Many own nice vintage gens and some of those are getting hard to find parts for. Dangling participles notwithstanding. Personally I want to wear those vintage gens swimming, but I know that's just foolish. So a good quality rep gives almost the same wearing satisfaction, and if I swim with it, and it floods, it's no real loss.

You know what I find funny also, on many gen forums lately I find the brand whores constantly trying to justify the inexcusable extortionate price hikes over the past 3 or 4 years in material terms, "but, but it's got a silicon balance spring", "but, but, the swiss franc was at an all time high", "but, but, 904L steel" . The other thing is the designs argument; sure money, effort and research and development goes into the designs but seriously; every manufacturer robs from every other, not just watches, just look at Apple, you'd imagine they invented the mp3 player and the mobile phone the way they go on...of course they've got their patents, but that's only because they plow huge amounts of money into ever so slightly tweaking a design they robbed and then making sure they put their rights to it in legal documents. I'm not having a go at apple here, just trying to put it in perspective. How much actual claim has any watch brand over a design? I never heard of Steinhart having trouble from Rolex or Archimede having trouble from IWC etc. It's all about that bloody logo on the dial isn't it, nothing to do with designs really at all. And if the problem comes back to the logo then it comes back to status and status symbols. And that is where the argument begins again

Women can vote ??!!! Whatchu talking about Willis !!!

I use Domi mate... Best to contact him direct for prices etc...

a rat ? I would say : a company of cobra snakes, followed by scorpions, tiger shaks, etc... I love all these animals...

Almost not possible to see any difference if You do not compare the lume on it as 12 and 6 markers is not glowing at all almost!

that first strap is too frikkin sweet bro, wear in good health!

Still thinking if I want to make it a FFF Love it red

red, that is how a sub should look. damn that's just wicked!

Hasn't left my wrist much at all lately

Any time! Just break the ice and dive in!

As we continue to develop RWG, I am interested in knowing how people access RWG from their mobile. So if you sometimes use your mobile to access RWG, please add your vote to the poll above.

Dirk Digler checking in But maybe that is the wrong side of the industry?

So... on to tools. First of all a disclaimer. I asked all of my artsy friends if anyone did leather work and if I could borrow some tools. I was fortunate enough to find someone who loaned me most of what I needed to get started. So no I didn't go out and buy the fancy $90 hammer you see in these pictures. But it sure is nice! Of all the tools in the box these are the tools I used. Must Haves: Beveler - This will let you thin the leather where it folds over the spring bars. You will thin the leather to half its thickness, fold over and glue. Otherwise your straps will be really fat at the ends. ~ $7. Adjustable Groover - This you can not do without if you want to do stitching down the sides of the strap. It will make a "track" along the edge of the leather that your stiches will sit in. This is the key to making your stiching look straight. ~ $20. Lacing Chisel 4-Prong 3/32 - Use this to punch the holes for your stiching. You can use an awl but this will make it look a lot more professional if you are a beginner. ~$11. Stitching Needles - $2. Waxed Nylon Thread - $3. Nice to have, but you can get by without:Hole Punch Set - You will want the big one for those fat Pre-V buckles. ~ $15. Edge Beveler - Use this to make the edges rounded. ~$9. Edge Slicker - Use this to seal the edges of the leather. You wet the edges and rub it with the stick the heat and moisture seal the leather fibers. ~$15. Other Items You will need: [*]Box Knife - (with a brand new blade). - To cut the leather. [*]Metal Ruler - To measure your 24mm width and length and to use as a cutting guide. [*]Hammer (with soft head) - To hit your Lacing Chisel, the soft head will keep you from mushrooming your lacing chisel.) [*]Glue - Tandy has a new leather glue that works like Elmers (dries clear). [*]Cutting surface / Pounding surface.

Great question I thought it was just me. However as mentioned there are many sources that will allow you to "piece" it together. 1st place to start is to YouTube Deluca Straps. He shows you in a six part series how to make a strap using an old belt. The next step is to YouTube leather stitching. A favorite of mine are the ones by MaineLineIndustries. Now that you have seen the basics go to Tandy Leather (or any local leathercrafts store) and get your tools and supplies. My next post will show you tools you need and then the steps of making the strap. I will use the strap I'm working on now which is only my 3rd strap ever so this will be a tutorial for beginners by a beginner and I will welcome any insight suggestions and tips from others who will surely have far more experiance than me. As a teaser here are straps 1 & 2.

@ASCI that looks f'ing awesome! tell me more about that strap! this one today (photo courtesy of Ubi)

---------- New band arrived in the mail today. Love it.. Babe ♥

@ Brian...this women Is on the RWG payroll. If you file a pp dispute we will have no other choice but to send her to your house. Choose wisely grasshopper.

This is useless logic. Of course anyone would trade in their rep for the gen if there was no additional cost but that is not the case. The point is that most rational people would much prefer to pay $300 for 95% accuracy rather than $6000. If I was wealthy, I'm still a student, and had $10k cash lying around I'd most likely buy a few high end reps for $2k max then take the family overseas for some unforgettable holiday. No one will ever be content with what they have. The guy with the 60ft yacht

I know it's late, out for dinner and just had to share these cuff links

Very very nice,

For the first boldened point: I have never worn a watch with any complications like toubillon, moon phases, power reserve etc, and equally would never wear anything like that, simply because they are not to my taste, so anything like a Patek is totally out of the queston for me. I have a passion for watches, which I have had since given my first watch as a child, but that's not to say that I like all watches... Sure, I can appreciate the engineering that has gone into complications, but they certainly don't appeal to me to wear them... For the second boldened point: My appreciation for a brand comes from the history of the brand and it's historic peices and contributions to the industry, not from a modern perception as to the 'status' such watches convey, or even many of the 'modern releases'. The only reason I like the Tudor Heritage Chrono is because it is a re-release of the Monte Carlo, and retains that early 70's aesthetic. The 79090 might well be a mid 90's watch, but the aesthetic of the case and design, is classic mid 70's. My favorite watch in my current collection is not the last watch I bought, the last watch I built, the one I wear the most frequently, or even the one which contains the most gifted parts. It is this one: A plastic submariner with a quartz movement which no one could in a million years ever believe to be a genuine Rolex. Why? Because every time I see it, I smile at the joke which it is, and it reminds me not to take life too seriously. As for unbranded versions, sure, they would be an acceptable watch, but without the branding, they would only ever be an incomplete copy, like trying to recreate a Big Mac or a Whopper at a home barbeque and not having quite the right special sauce. The aesthetic requires that the branding be there, not the prestige such branding may convey. I've never once been called out wearing a Rolex rep, I've never even had anyone comment on one either, nor has it gotten me any 'special treatment', so while I can only speak for myself, it's realy not about the status or the supposed status, it's about what I like in a watch

Most guys I know who have one or two gen watches generally fall in the hate bracket towards reps..... because of whats been said before here... in terms of earning the right, working hard etc... Most guys I know with gens who are interested in watches... have no problem with reps.... As long as you dont try to pass off your rep as a gen ! The accuracy of a rep or getting it more accurate .. to me is about pleasure, its about enjoying a journey, its about enjoying a hobby and sharing that enjoyment...its about this community and the friends I have here... it is not and never has been about trying to fool people into thinking I wear loads of gens..... I will happily tell someone my watch is a rep... though most of the times I have been called out... I have been wearing a gen.... Yes I do play with people who think they know more than they do but that is a different thing IMHO... I like to watch them build themselves up and then wait for that right moment... to stick my pin in thier balloon... (not that that has happened much) I think what any gen wearer and indeed any proper people hate is someone trying to pass off themselves as someone they are not.... and those people usually wear reps to do that .... That general level of hate or despisment is that most people dont understand what we in this hobby are about or certainly most us.... if they did their attitude might be swayed... because all they see is guys trying to sell reps as gens or guys wearing reps pretending that they are something that they are not.... But you do see those same guys on here.... and I hate them... because all they do is register.... and post.... "where can i find...?" or "What is the best...?" now some of these guys then disappear some stick around to increase there rep collection to fool others and some are converted to the enjoyment and pleasure of this hobby and more importantly this community.. And overall I like this community more than the gen community of which I am a member of several.... because it is in the main truely about enjoying and discussing watches... and seeing what guys have done or want to do.... and not about look at me... look what I have or look where my wristie is now not because they want to share but because they want to show off !! So you could say I hate rep wearers !!

what he mean by correct dial colour ... is the cream off white now .. as before its was white !!